59 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Just get us Phil Jones, proven English player 😁 , and call Barca before we make a bid.

In all seriousness, I refuse to believe there aren't realistically 2-3 defenders out there who are willing to join us and improve our defence. The issue was we were doing business at snail place, moving on from 1 failed target to another. If we wanted 2 defenders, surely we could have bid for multiple players at the time.

 

Why should we think that this is not what Chelsea actually were, and are, doing? These are serious, sophisticated, successful, people. Let's not kid ourselves that things which are obvious to us are not also obvious to them. Just because one of our transfer pursuits happens to be attracting more attention on social media does not mean others are not on going. Of course they are.

6 hours ago, Trueblue76 said:

What about Tabsopa at Leverkusen...looks to have good stats?

 

Yes. He is a very good CB. International player for Portugal as well. He would be a fantastic signing. Maybe evenn better than Pavard. Problem is here the price. He would be more expensive than Pavard. I think Leverkusen would ask for a price in the Jules c**t range.

4 hours ago, Nick05 said:

I hear David Luiz is available.

Personally I prefer Ben Haim. He’d be a good signing for 65m imo.

12 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

Personally I prefer Ben Haim. He’d be a good signing for 65m imo.

I say we throw the bank at Khalid Boulahrouz personally.  70m should get it done!

17 hours ago, Zeta said:

Based on a purely statistical analysis, having never heard of any of these players. We should choose between the following for our next CB target:

Konstantinos Mavropanos

Boubakar Kouyaté

Amos Pieper

I'm against Pieper, as his name means Spud in Dutch. I have principles, you know.

Edited July 27, 20223 yr by Valerie

13 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Although not a rumour, how the f**k do West ham Pursue a striker, and then instantly get him , minimum fuss, yet everyone is linked to our targets, 'Just piss off you horrible gits'

Probably because the player they signed is bang average so none of the big boys were interested  ?

I mean, had you ever heard of Scamacca before they signed him ? I hadn't 🙂 

15 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Probably because the player they signed is bang average so none of the big boys were interested  ?

I mean, had you ever heard of Scamacca before they signed him ? I hadn't 🙂 

You might not follow the Serie A. He played for Italy in the nation league not so long ago. Maybe saw some games or highlights of Italy then? 

Edited July 27, 20223 yr by Night-T

10 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Probably because the player they signed is bang average so none of the big boys were interested  ?

I mean, had you ever heard of Scamacca before they signed him ? I hadn't 🙂 

Turned Down PSG and the two Milans to go to West Ham, yet we cannot convince Kounde and Dembele to come here rather than bankrupt Barca...deary me they are a cult.

I don't know much about the Scamacca guy either, heard he's a striker. How is he going to get game time at PSG? He'd have to covid 1/2 of the team. Inter got Lukaku, Milan still got Giroud, Zlatan just to name 2. So I'd say he made the right choice if he wants to play football instead of bench warming.

9 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Turned Down PSG and the two Milans to go to West Ham, yet we cannot convince Kounde and Dembele to come here rather than bankrupt Barca...deary me they are a cult.

Although I still think that under Roman we would have won any pi$$ing contest very early. Possibly at our overall cost but I suspect the first one, Dembele I think, would have set the tone. RA would have blown them out the water and I don't think they would have tracked us like they have since

Must be a slow day ... Axman hasn't started any new threads about players I've never heard of !

19 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Probably because the player they signed is bang average so none of the big boys were interested  ?

I mean, had you ever heard of Scamacca before they signed him ? I hadn't 🙂 

Most people that has played FM will definately know Scamacca. I've seen quite a few Serie A games over the past seasons, though not with Sassuolo or Genoa specifically. He's kind of target man type like Tammy Abraham (tall and with quite decent ball control, red.) with a bit better technique in his finishing and a bit more strength as well. 

Couldn't have imagined us going for him really as he - like you've mentioned - was somewhat unknown or average until last season. In 20-21 he only played 26 games for Genoa while being subbed on or off pretty much every game. That was his breakthrough season even - and he was already 22 (21) y/o at that time. 

 

9 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Turned Down PSG and the two Milans to go to West Ham, yet we cannot convince Kounde and Dembele to come here rather than bankrupt Barca...deary me they are a cult.

As far as I've read it wasn't exactly him turning these clubs down, but Sassuolo as West Ham were willing to meet their valuation. PSG wouldn't do that while Inter got Lukaku and had to decide whether or not to go for Dybala instead at the time. That led to rumours saying AC Milan was indeed in pole position to sign him, but from what I know they too felt that €40-50M was way too much and instead tried out for a loan deal with an option to buy.

_____

Oh well, back to our real issue; the CB/RWB position. Not really that big of a fan of Pavard - he kind of reminds me a bit of Christensen physically and technically. The latter is obviously a good thing. However, there are plenty of exciting Bundesliga CB's to go for IMO. Tapsoba, Upamecano and Mavropanos have already been mentioned, and these aren't even the ones I'd go for primarily. Gvardiol is. Young, fast and strong. Left footed. Knows how to play in both a 3-line and 4-line at the back. Furhtermore there's Lacroix and Ndicka who'd fit in decently IMO. Looking away from the Bundesliga I'd probably go for Pau Torres. 

What I'm struggling to see is he logic in us paying £70M+ for a defender like Fofana, as most rumours now are pointing towards. He's young and he knows the league. Starter for Leicester. I know. He's also just lost around 10 months due to a broken leg - something that will affect most players ability going forward.  That injury is a massive red flag in my book. With him just signing a new contract during this period, I'm really finding it hard to see us doing a great deal here.

We once bought a player - some relatively famous Spanish striker from Liverpool who had recently returned from a serious knee injury. An injury that saw him delivering his worst goal return for Liverpool and Spain in a long time - which was shortly before us smashing our transfer record to sign him. 

- Needless to say, he was never the same for us or any of the clubs afterwards.

Fofana isn't neccesarily the same case - but young players being hit by serious injuries is such a massive risk. RLC, CHO and Zouma are other examples of players who had the world at their feet before picking up long term injuries. In flashes I've seen alle three showing some of the potential and level they showed before, but never consistantly.

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by Hanzen

5 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Must be a slow day ... Axman hasn't started any new threads about players I've never heard of !

What can I say, my Sauce has run dry so far today 😉

Linked with Atalanta wingback Joakim Mæhle. 

Yes please. 

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Linked with Atalanta wingback Joakim Mæhle. 

Yes please. 

Cover for Reece, or are we moving him to central defense? Feels like we are being linked with a growing number of right backs the last week, so I am started to suspect he is being moved to CB

5 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Cover for Reece, or are we moving him to central defense? Feels like we are being linked with a growing number of right backs the last week, so I am started to suspect he is being moved to CB

I think depth given the fact he can play either side. Much better option than Dumfries. 

Can see us still being after Pavard, Skriniar, or Fofana for that RCB spot. 

17 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Linked with Atalanta wingback Joakim Mæhle. 

Yes please. 

Been linked with him the past 2 summers of I remember correctly.

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by axman2526

Being linked with another striker from the Bundeslige: Andrew Fuchsitüp. Apparently scored 15 last season.

I can see the link up now:

Havertz, to Werner.. Andy Fuchsitüp!

 

 

 

Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has revealed that he used to support Chelsea as a youngster . . . shame he aint available.

1 hour ago, TheCeleryKing said:

 

 

 

 

Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has revealed that he used to support Chelsea as a youngster . . . shame he aint available.

 

Davies and David, two cracking Canadian players.

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by axman2526

44 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Davies and David, two cracking Canadian players.

Too soon to be looking for Dave replacements.

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by DarkMata

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Davies and David, two cracking Canadian players.

I was planning on moving to canada before the pandy and then you suddenly had a dictator!!

WTF guys 

I miss banff and whistler, Hopefully things get better pronto, How can Canada get worse than blighty, unreal!

I was expecting truckers riding giant moose's into battle lol

22 minutes ago, Kantesmini said:

I was planning on moving to canada before the pandy and then you suddenly had a dictator!!

WTF guys 

I miss banff and whistler, Hopefully things get better pronto, How can Canada get worse than blighty, unreal!

I was expecting truckers riding giant moose's into battle lol

Ultimate power corrupts Ultimately. All politicians are bent.

15 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Linked with Atalanta wingback Joakim Mæhle. 

Yes please. 

Koulibaly,... Maehle??? Bring in the Ex-Genkies! He is one of my all time former KRC Genk players. 

This guy has 5 lungs, pace and for a wing back passes his man very easy! Crazy work rate. Has everything to become a fan favorite. 

At the start he struggled a bit with his positioning, because he is so good offensively, but that has improved a lot.

He is the type of guy that makes rushes over the wing the entire game and will still sprint in 95th minute over the entire pitch when everyone else is flat out to get that winner.

I remember in the preseason of Genk, when everyone came back from their holiday. The squad had to do a Yoyo interval test. 

He finished it entirely all 24 levels 5.5km with speeds over 20km/h. The guy just never gets tired. 

Please make it happen. 🤩